Clancy pleased with Maigh Cuilinn’s progress

Galway Advertiser, Thu, Nov 17, 2011

Maigh Cuilinn hurling manager Fergal Clancy is pleased with the progress his squad has made over the past few months. Having won two cups over the past few weeks and returned to the senior ranks of Galway hurling for 2012, he has every right to be.

“Our objective all year was to get back senior. That has been achieved, and in some ways we are in bonus territory from now on. However the squad itself wants to go on, improve, and try to win the All-Ireland intermediate title now. A good few of the team and panel won All-Ireland medals and played in Croke Park with the footballers a few years ago and they want to replicate that now in hurling.,” he says.

“It will be tough, but we all believe that it can be achieved with the right attitude and work-rate. Robert Emmets (London ) have a lot of intercounty hurlers and they will be difficult to beat on Sunday week, but we have been beating good teams all season and the squad wants to keep on that upward curve.”

Clancy, who is joined on the management team by Bríd Noone and Tom Tom Faherty, was delighted with the colossal support his team had in Athleague last Sunday.

“The reception the players got when they came on the field last weekend made the hair stand on our necks. It was wonderful to hear and see such terrific colour from our supporters at an away venue and we would like to thank them for their support all year.

“The village is bedecked with green and white and it is great to see. Hopefully the team can continue to give them something to cheer about and a win in London would be fantastic as it would set up an All-Ireland semi-final for us in January.

“We have taken it one game at a time all year and we won’t be changing that approach.”